Diaphragm type evaporator



Feb.l l5, 1938. L. M. cRosLEv Er AL DIAPHRAGM TYPE EVAPORATOR Filed Aug. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l il y i A' INVENToR, EW/5 @051.5%-

Feb. 15, 1938 .-L. M. CROSLEY ET AL DIAPHRAGM TYPE EVAPORATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1934 kv... Woof/m WWW/.N 1.H/A Ma Patented Feb. 125, 193s UNITED STATES 2,108,744 l DIAPHRAGM TYPE EvAPoRATon Lewis M. Crosley and Roland H. Money, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The Crosley Radio Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplieatimiA August 27, V1934, serial Nn. '141,541

11 Claims.

Our invention relates to the provision of evaporators for refrigerators and the like, which can be easily andcheaply made of sheet metal. Our objects comprise that of employing a novel means 5 to secure continuity and uniformity of circulation of refrigerant `in an evaporator. Another object is to promote uniformity of temperature throughout an evaporator by circulating the refrigerant two or more times about the same 1 lfreezing space and bringing colder andwarmer portions of the refrigerant into heat exchanging relationship with -each other. Another object is the construction of evaporators of the shell enclose a freezing space upon at least three sides or portions thereof, having internal diaphragms to control the -circulation of refrigerant.

These and otherbbjects of our invention.'

which will be set forth hereinafter or ,will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, w accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which we shall describe certain exemplary embodiments, reference being had to the drawings which form a part hereof, and in which: Figure 1 shows a portion of a refrigerator cabinet with one of our evaporators installed there- 1n. Fig. 2 is a'vertical sectional view of a simple form of ourv invention, and corresponding to the lines 2-2'in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is another vertical section of the device of Fig. 2 taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionof an evaporatorenclose ya freezing space on four sides.-

Fig.l 5 is a sectional view of an evaporator similarly enclosing the freezing space but having two 5,

paths for simultaneous flow of the refrigerant.

Figs. 6 and vshow-in section types of eyaporator in which'the refrigerant vcircles about the freezing space in one continuous path. r Fig. 7 shows a modied -form' of evaporator having an action like that of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of evaporator having an action like that of Fig. 4.

We 4shall .describe rst a simpler form of evaporator to whichdiigs. 1, 2 and 3 pertain. Re-

` ferring first lto Fig. 2, we have shown an evapo- 59 'rator formed essentially of three plates of metal.

An outer-U-shaped 'plate'of stamped sheet v type, by which we mean evaporators adapted to and an outlet fitting similar to the device of Fig. 2, but adapted'to the member 4. The diaphragmuias holes `8a near,

one of its edges, and adapted to come into substantial registry with the end portions of the passlageways 6.

A third U-shaped plate of metal 8 is formed to fit inside the other two. This plate is embossed to form a lower header 9 and a plurality of linger-likepassageways Ill communicating with the header. v

lWhen the plates are assembled as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the headers lie opposite each other, as do theV several parallel passageways 6 and I0. 'I'he plates are so shaped that' their edges come together as shown at liin the figures. Consequeritlyv the evaporator may becompleted by welding the plates together at their meeting edges, by welding into place an inlet tting I2 4 I3 'in holes previously formed in the headers, by spot welding the k plates together between the passageways, and

by treating the evaporator in whatever way may r 'be desired to prevent corrosion.

The evaporator was designed primarily for use as a flooded type device. It is shown as vfed by a capillary tube ,HL A skimmer I5 is placed in the upper header. The diaphragm l-member 'i closes off the upper header from the lower and likewise closes the open'sides of the passageways 6 and I0 allowing no uid to pass therebetween excepting through the perforations 8. The re- -fri'gerant enters the` lower header 9 and hows through the 'passageways `IIJ about three sides of 'the freezing space, passing through the diaphragm at the perforations 8, and again flowing about three sides of the freezing space through the passageways 6 to the upper header 5. The refrigerant will be coldest just after it has entiered the evaporator. It will be seen that the fluid in header 9 is in heat exchanging relationship with the uid in header 5. Similarly all parts of the fluid in each of the passageways I0 is in heat exchanging relationship withvcorresponding parts of .the iuid in opposite passageways 6. These conditions make foruniformity of evaporator temperature and efficiency.l Moreover, al1 parts of the fluid leaving header v9 must go to the very end of the.evaporator and pass through the perforations `ii before ultimately Areaching the header 5. This makes for uniformityvo'f flow and prevents the formation of dead spots. l

In the figures, I6 indicates brackets bylwhich the evaporatorsl may be fastened to the insulated wall Il of a refrigerator, if desired. In vthe evaporator hitherto described the top'and bottom portions form shelves upon which icecube trays I8 and I9 may' rest. A face plate for concealing the evaporator and having openings for the rein Fig. 1, having an upper machine compartment moval 4of thetrays is shown at 20; and the evaporatorvis indicated asinstalled-in a refrigeratorshown in Fig. 4, where the evaporator is so constructed as to enclose all four sides of the freezing space. A special description of the parts will not be necessary because they are made in the same 'way and with the same types of configurations as the parts heretofore described.

The evaporator of Fig. 4 comprises a diaphragm' plate 23 perforated as at 24, an inner plate 25, and an outer plate 26. The plates, considered as a whole, are tube-like in formation, but are not complete tubes, being open at the place marked 21. Welding is done at the meeting edges of the plates adjacent the opening 21, and around the lateralmeeting edges of the plate. Still another type of evaporator having the same principle of operation is shown in Fig. 9, where there is a diaphragm member 28 of closed tube-like form. This plate is perforated as at 29. There is an inner plate 30 not in the form of a closed tube, and an outer plate 3| 'also not in the form of a closed tube. The plates are welded together at their lateral meeting edges, 'and also are welded where the longitudinal edges of the plates 30 and 3| contact the tube member 28 as at 32 and` 33.

Our invention likewise contemplates types of evaporator construction in which there are a plurality of individual ow paths. We have shown in Fig. a diaphragm member 34, which may either be in the form of a closed tube perforated as at 35, or may be in the form of an open tube-like member having edge portions which do nu.. quite come together at the place marked 35. The inner `member may be unitary or made up of two or more parts. We have shown two parts indicated at 36 and 31. The meeting edges of these parts are clearly shown; and these meeting edges will, of course, be welded together. The outer member also may be made up of two or more plates, and wehave shown two plates 38 and 39. In this evaporator, the

refrigerant, being introduced into the lower.

header member 40, follows two paths along the interior side portions of the evaporator (as shown by the arrows) to the bottom thereof, whereupon it passes through the perforations or space 35 Aand returns to the upper header 4l about two exteriorly disposed paths, as also shown bythe arrows.

In Fig. 1 We have shown a modification of the evaporator of Fig. 5. l A diaphragml member oi tube-like formation but not closed is shown at 42. An inner plate or plate members 43 and 44 areprovided as shown, andan outer plate or plate members 45 and 46. plate members and the diaphragm member are `welded together at their longitudinal edge portions 41, and there may be a bracing member 48 spanning the space therebetween and serving to strengthen the evaporator.

The evaporatorsof Figs. 1 to 4 and '1 may be made up in the at and bent toI shape if desired; but this is not ordinarily a preferred method of manufacture. It is more convenient to make up the individual plate or plate portions in their nnal form, and then to assemble them to form the completed evaporator. The usual practice,

however, will be to stampthe inner and outer plate members4 or portions in the flat, and afterwards bend these in suitable dies to their nal form. Y

In Figs. 6 and 8,A we have shown a type of evaporator in which the freezing space is en- The inner and outer closed on -all four sides, but in which there is `a. single continuous path from the inlet header to the .outlet header passing substantially twice about the periphery of the evaporator. In the device of Fig. 6 we have shown a diaphragm member 49 of a tubular form, which may either be closed and perforated as at 50, or which may be open, the edges failing to meet so as to provide the space 50. We have shown welded to this diaphragm member, an inner-plate portion 5| stamped to 4form a header member 52, and other inner plate portions 53 and 54. The manner of joining these plate portions will be clear from the foregoing. We have likewise shown an outer plate portion 55 stamped to form a header portion 56, and co-operating outer plate'portions members indicated generally at 6|, an inner plate member \or members indicated generally at 62, and an outer plate member or members indicated generally at 63. The inner and outer plate members form respectively a lower header 64 and an upper header 65. IThe diaphragm member has an extension 66 in the header assembly, which serves to close off the lower header excepting for the passageway 61. -The diaphragm member has on its other end another extension 68, which 'serves to close off the upper header 65, excepting for the passageways 69. The space between the tWo extensions 66 and 68 has been indicated at v1li, and serves as a passageway connecting the passageways 61 and 69. The arrows will enable one to follow the course of the refrigerant, which in this instance passes from the lower header 64 in a counter-clockwise direction twice about the freezing space before it reaches the header 65.

Modications may be made in our invention without departing from the spirit thereo Having thus described our invention, what we-v` 'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:- s

1. A. refrigerator evaporator comprising a shee metal member of substantial U-shape embossed to form a header and a plurality of passageways extending therefrom, a second sheet metal member of substantial U-shape acting as a diaphragm, and a third sheet metal member of substantial U-shape, andembossed to form an exit header and a plurality of passageways, said members being assembled one inside the other and joined to provide a closed system, said diaphragm member being perforated to provide access from one group of passageways to another at a point remote from said headers, and serving to comple-te said headers and passageways.

2. Asheet metal evaporator comprising three members as follows: an outer member providing a refrigerant chamber and a plurality of passagespace upon a plurality of sides, and means for the passage of refrigerant from passageway to passageway through said diaphragm member at a point remote from said chambers so as to cause reverse flow of the refrigerant about the` sides of the evaporator.

3. A sheet metal .evaporator comprising three members as follows: an outer member providing a refrigerant chamber and a. set of passageways extending therefrom. an intermediate member acting as a diaphragm to complete the chambers and the passageways in the other members, and an inner member providing a refrigerant chamber and a set of passageways extending therefrom, said several members being of a shape when assembled to enclose a freezing space upon Ia plurality of sides, and means for the passage of refrigerant from passageway to passageway through said diaphragm member at a point remote from said chambers, and said members being disposed to cause flow of refrigerant about certain of the sides of said evaporator in one set of passageways and again about the sides thereof in other of said passageways.

4. A sheet metal evaporator comprising three members as follows: an outer member providing a refrigerant chamber and a plurality of passageways extending therefrom, anintermediate member acting as a diaphragm to complete the chambers and the passageways in the other passage of refrigerant from passageway to 4pas sagewayv through said 'diaphragm member at a point remote from said chambers, all of said members when assembled being of substantially tubular shape, and said diaphragm member enforcing a circulation of refrigerant substantially twice through said sides.

5. A sheet metal evaporator comprising three members as follows: an outer member providing av refrigerant chamber and a plurality of passageways extending therefrom, an intermediate member acting as a diaphragm to complete the chambers and the passageways in the other members,

and an inner member providing a' refrigerant chamber and a plurality of passageways extending therefrom, said several members beingj of a shape when assembled to enclose a freezing space upon a plurality of sides, means for the passage of refrigerant from passageway to passageway through said diaphragm member at a point rechamber and completing said passageways, a' second sheet metal membervembossed to form an' exit chamber andpassageways extending therefrom abouta plurality of sides of a freezing space, said diaphragm 4also confining refrigerant to said exi-t chamber and completing Vsaid passageways, yand means for the passage of re.-

frigerant through said diaphragm member from one group of passageways to another at a point remote from said chambers. I

7. An evaporator of a type adapted to enclose a freezing space upon at least three sides, said' evaporator comprising entrance and exit chamber portions located adjacent each other upon one side of said freezing space'and extending across said side, and a continuous passageway from said entrance chamber to said exit chamber, extending about and returning about the remainderof said sides, said chamber portions and passageways being formed of a pair of embossed plates and al diaphragm member interposed therebetween, the said diaphragm being perforated to permit individual interconnection between the passageways formed in the one exterior plate with the passageways formed in the other exteriorplate.

8. An evaporator of the type adapted to enclose a freezing space upon at least lfour sides, said evaporator comprising an entrance chamber portion and an exit chamber portion, both located on the same side of the evaporator, and a continuous passageway for refrigerant from one chamber to the other, said continuous passageway extending aboutv all four sides of said freezing space once, and more than once about certain of said sides, said passageways and chambers being formed of metallic members all of which are in direct heat exchanging relationship with each other, said metallic members comprising a pair of embossed plates and a diaphragm member interposed therebetween, the saidv diaphram being perforated to permit individual interconnection between the passageways formed in the one exterior plate with theL passageways formed in the other exterior plate.

9. Asheet metal evaporator of a type enclosing a' freezing space upon at least three sides, said evaporator comprising a pair of opposed sheet metal members, each embossed to'form a chamberl and passageways extending therefrom, and a diaphragm member interposed between said opposed embossed members confining refrigerant to said chambers and completing said passageways, and formed to permit iiowof the refrigerant from the passageways in one embossed member .to the passageways in the other, the said passageways and diaphragm being so arranged that refrigerant is caused to pass from one chamber through the group of passageways embossed in the member containing said chamber, about a plurality of sides of said evaporator, and to pass to the chamber embossed in the other of said'em-y bossed members in e passageways embossed in the said other mem about the same sides of said evaporator, the passageways in each member being in heat exchange relationship with the pasencloses the said freezing space upon four sides,

and in whichv the said passageways conduct refrigerantand return it about less than four sides of said evaporator.

`I1. 'An evaporator as claimed in claim 9, which encloses the said freezing space upon four sides, and in which there are sets of passageways extending oppositely from each chamber, and in which the said-passageways conduct refrigerant 

